Concrete-mixing machine.



G. A. PETERSON.

CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1908.

Patented Jau1.21,1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH c0, WASfflfJGTON. D. c

G. A. PETERSON. CONCRETE MIXING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1908.

1,051,003. Patented Jan.21,1913.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Fig: 3

mmsssss nvmvm Amm/ars COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D, c.

G. A. PETERSON. CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 3, 1908. V

1,051,003. Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' 'Ammsrs] G. A. PETERSON. GONGRETE MIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1903.

6 $HEETS-SHEET 4.

w/msssss mamma 2 9% MM %277. V WZ JWMW COLUMBIA I'LANOGRAPH cohw/asmNfi'l'oN. D-C.

G. A. PETERSON. CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1908. 1,051,003..

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

gag/g,

I em fi .2

lllllllllr A. PETERSON. CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1908. v

' e SHEETS-SHEET s.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

' hereinafter 'rns are GEORGE A. PETERSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CONCRETE-MIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Concrete-Mixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machinery or appliances for mixing in a mass different substances, in the production of material for the manufacture of concrete, artificial stone, and like compositions of matter that require to be brought to a homogeneous condition.

The invention has for its object, chiefly, to provide a machine for handling and operating on a mass of materials or substances on alarge scale, and having such uniform action or operation that the different charges or masses turned out by the machine will have approximately the same homogeneous character.

A machine of this invention is of special advantage in the construct-ion of concrete buildings, and in other work and operations where large quantities of concrete or similar compositions of matter having the same qualities are required for the work.

A' further object of the invention is the production of a mixinganachine having the quality of working upon material either in a wet or a dry state; and the quality of being adjusted or varied as to its stirring or mixing action upon the material, according to the character, condition or quality of the materials being worked.

To these ends and objects, chiefly, the invention consists in certain novel parts and combination of parts and mechanism, as described and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification, producing an improved mixing-machine for the purposes specified.

The nature of the said invention and the manner in which I proceed to produce, apply and carry out the same, will be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing referred to therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front-elevation of a concrete mixing machine embodying my said invention, representing the mixing-pan in position under the revolving head, and with the stirring-devices on the latter raised out of their working position in the pan. Fig. 2 is a front view of the parts of inside.

revoluble head. Fig. spective of the fixed clutch.

of the frame of'the machine, member being composed of a mixing-pan and the truck on which it is mounted. Fig. 3 is a vlew taken from the left side of Fig. 2, showing a portion of the body of the pan and one of its trunnions in section. Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, of the locking device on the frame of the machine and on the mixing-pan, by

which the pan is temporarily locked or secured to the frame of the machine after the pan is placed in position, and while the stirring-devices are working. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, also in detail, of the means on the traclg for preventing the pan from turning on its trunnions when it is being filled, and while the mixing operation is going on. Fig. 6 is a front-elevation of an enlarged scale, of the revoluble head and the stirrers carried by it; the same being shown in sec tion on one side of the axis of rotation. Fig. 7 is a plan or top-view of Fig. 6, with the top partly broken away to expose the-gears Figs. 8 and 9 are views in detail of one of the posts on which the stirring-devices are mounted. tary top-view of the toothed-base or head of the post. Fig. 10 is an elevation of another embodiment of the invention comprising a construction of revoluble head carrying and giving motion to three sets of stirring devlces. Fig. 11 is a plan or top-view of Flg. 10. Fig. 12 is a longitudinalsectional view on an enlarged scale of the driving-mechanism and parts that revolve the head around the vertical axis and produce rotating motion of the stirrer-carrying posts in the head; the same figure showing also the means by which the power is utilized to raise and lower the casing that carries the 13 is a detail in perinclines on the frame thatcoact with the rotatable inclines on the rotating means to actuate the friction- Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view of the worm and worm-wheel of the mechanism that revolves the stirrerhead on its axis, showing the inclosing casing. Fig. 15 is a detached face view of the ball-holding disk for the thrust-bearing illustrated in Fig. 14.

In the drawings referred to, 2-2, 3-4 indicate the upright and horizontal members the bottom platform usuallyamounted on Wheels for the more readily moving the machine from place to place. Rails 5-5 Fig. 9 being a fragmen= laid across the platform protected from the grit and through the space between the uprights form a track for the truck-wheels 66 of the mixing-pan a, and the platform preferably extends beyond the frame on each side to provide room on the platform for an empty pan, in which a charge of material may be placed while the charge contained in another pan under the stirrers is being mixed.

The stirringdevices consist of arms or blades of various shapes or forms on upright rotatable posts 8 that are mounted on a revoluble head 25 to which motion is given from an engine through the medium of a shaft 9 and pulley 10 on the machine-frame, and a system of gears and counter-shafts he arrangement of this driving-means is such that the head 5 is revolved around the upright shaft at the same time that each stirrer-carrying post is rotated on its own axis, and while traveling in its own circular path each set of stirrers revolves around the central axis, The means for producing this compound motion shown in detail in Figs. 12 and 13 comprises a beveled-gear 16 on a sleeve 17, and a clutch-member 14 which is connected with the central upright shaft 15 by a slot and feather 18, so as to slide up and down on that shaft, the driving shaft 9 being connected with the gear 16 by a pinion 20.

The upper end of each post 8 is connected with a spur-wheel 23 inside the head 6 and the wheels 23 being arranged in a circle around the shaft 15 are in mesh with the teeth of a spur-pinion 24 keyed on the shaft 15 near the lower end. All the gears 23 being situated within the head are covered and dust arising from the pan during the operation of the machine; and in the construction of the head provision is made not only for protecting the bearings of the gears, but also for changing the stirrer-posts 8 to detach them and substitute' one style or form of stirrers for another. F or such purpose the head is made in two parts united by bolts 26 that pass through cars 27 on the outside of the head ,and not through the inside; so that the lower half or section of the head may be detached and removed without detaching the upper half from the shaft 15. An inclosed stepb'earing 27 is provided for the foot of the shaft, and the bearings for the gears that carry the stirrer-posts consist of V-shaped rings 2930 formed on the top and bottom inner faces of the casing, and fitted to circular grooves 31 of corresponding shape in cross-section in the top and bottom faces of the gears. Instead of being rigidly fixed to its driving-gear, however, each stirrer-post is connected to the gear by a yielding joint or connection of novel construction that has for its object to permit a limited angular movement of the post in any direction around the axis, and thereby allow the post ,will.

to yield whenever the resistance made by any one of the stirrers during their immersion in the mass of material becomes excessive on one side of the axis with the effect to bend the post or throw greater strain upon the point where it connects with the drivinggear, than the post would be able to withstand.

The construction of the flexible joint or connection between the post and its drivinggear is seen in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 where the enlarged upper end 32 of the post 8lying within the hub 33 of the gear has the form of the segment of a sphere, and is provided with gear teeth 34 on its convex outer face, of proper size and pitch to fit the teeth on the concave surface at the bottom of the cavity in the hub.

Between the flat top-face 35 of the head on the post 8, and the top-plate 36 which covers a central cavity in the gear 23 a stiff helical spring 37 is placed under a degree of compression suflicient to hold the head of the post to a close seat on the concave bottom of the cavity, and thus maintain the teeth on the head in such working engagement with the teeth on the concave seat that the post and its driving-gear will be positively connected together at the same time that the post may yield to excessive angular strain tending to throw it out of line with the axis of rotation.

From the shaft 15 on the frame the head receives its revolving motion and the stirrers are rotated by the following means, the details of which are shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. The upright shaft 15 carrying on its lower end within the head 5 the center gear 24 that is common to all the drivers of the stirrer-posts, is geared into the shaft 9 by the pinion 20 and the beveled-gear 16 before mentioned. But the gear 16 instead of being fixed directly on the shaft 15, is connected with it by a friction-clutch. in order that the power may be thrown off at This clutch consists of the conical member 14, slidable on the shaft 15, but keyed to it by the spline 18, so as to have limited movement within the conical recess in the hub of the beveled-gear. A collar 38 lying upon the conical member is attached to a lever 40 through the movement of which the collar is pressed down upon the hub of the conical clutch-member and the latter is caused to, lock the beveled-gear on the upright shaft. The lever 40 is fulcrumed at one end 41 and is attached at the opposite end to one member 42 of a tog-' gle, having its remaining member 43 pivotally attached to a fixed support 44 on the frame. From the center of the toggle a link 45 extends to one side of the frame, where it. is connected to one end of an upright lever 46 situated on the upright 2 of the frame, the

fulcrum 47 of this lever being below the.

point of attachment of the link. On throwing the lower end of the lever 16 in one direction, the members of the toggle will be brought in line, and the clutch-members will be set together, wit-h the effect to lock the beveled-gear on the upright shaft. A ballbearingis interposed between the collar 38 and the conical member 1a of the clutch, to reduce the friction between the parts when the clutch is on. The revolving motion of the head 7) is given from the upright shaft through the medium of a worm-wheel 50 keyed on a sleeve or long hub 51 that carries the head I) on its lower end, and a worm 52 on a short shaft 53 on the movable casing (Z. Beneath this casing and connected to it by the long hub or sleeve 51 is the revoluble head 5 which is secured to the flange 54 on the lower end of the sleeve, and the sleeve is fitted to turn on the shaft 15 as the wormwheel gives motion to it. The worm-wheel within the casing (Z is keyed on the sleeve 51, and the latter is free to rotate while the casing is confined against rotation between the uprights of the frame and remains at rest, excepting that it is movable vertically on the guide-rails 12 of the frame to place the stirrers in position in the mass of material, or to raise them out of the pan after the charge is mixed. The shaft 53 carrying the worm 52 is driven through the following train of gearing: 84: is a bevel wheel keyed to the shaft 15 and meshing with a pinion upon a shaft 83 supported in a suitable hearing. The shaft 83 is connected, by bevel gear 85, with a vertically disposed shaft 82, and this in turn is connected, through bevel gears 86, 87, with the shaft 53. Flanged wheels 55 on the sides of the casing are fitted to travel on the upright guide-rails 12 and serve to hold the casing in place.

A novel feature in the stirrer-rotating mechanism of my invention consists in utilizing the same power that gives motion to the stirrers, to set the stirrers in working position after the pan is run into place in the frame, and also to raise them out of the ma terial in the pan at the end of the operation; by which the revoluble head is more easily and quickly handled and controlled more easily than could be done by hand, and with much less expenditure of time and labor. The construction of this head raising and lowering means is shown in Figs: 1, 12 and 13 in which the suspension-chains 60 are wound with several turns around the sleeve 59 and are carried over guide-sheaves 61 at opposite sides of the frame where counter-weights 62 are attached to their ends. A friction-clutch composed of a conical ring 63 fitting in a groove or recess 64 of corresponding form in the underside of the beveled gear 16 connects the sleeve 59 with that gear when the clutch is thrown on, with the effect to rotate the sleeve and wind up the chains,

strike a depending arm trary direction to the movement given the lever 71 is set out from the frame. The

when the beveled-gear is rotated. The clutch-operating means is composed of inclined wedge shaped faces 65 on a rotatable ring 66 surrounding the sheave and the corresponding inclines 67 on the fixed plate 68. The last mentioned part is bolted to the top cross-piece 3 of the frame. As the ring 66 is turned on the sleeve 59, the inclines are caused to ride upon each other, with an extent of movement sufficient to raise the sleeve and set the tapering surfaces of the clutch together. Such rotative -movement of the ring 66 to bring the parts together is produced by a slide-bar 7 6 having spur-teeth on the inner side next the periphery of the ring 66 and in engagement 'with a series of spur-teeth 176 on the ring. A hand-lever 71 is fulcrumed in a bracket '7 2 on the side of the frame,.and the rod 7 3 connecting the slide-bar 7 6 to the lever is movable in guides 74 on the frame. On

throwing out the lower end of the lever 71 the teeth on the slide-bar 76 will rotate the ring 66 in the proper direction to cause the inclines on its bottom face to ride up on the stationary inclines on the plate. By this means the power is applied to the sleeve 59 in the proper direction to wind up the chains 60 and raise the casing d and thus elevate the head 7). Provision is made also for automatically throwing off the clutch and disconnecting the sleeve from the power when the head has reached the end of its upward movement, by placing on one of the chains a stop-pin or projection 80 which will 81 on the slide-bar 7 6 and move the rack back, or in the con when location of the stop-pin 80 in the length of the chain determines the moment in the winding movement when the rack will turn the ring 66 backward and thereby separate the members of the clutch.

In connection with the removable-pan in the mixing-machine of my invention, I provide, also, means or devices for looking or rendering it immovable during the operation of the stirrers in the pan; such looks or fastenings are situated on both sides of the trunnions on which the pan is supported in its truck and each fastening is composed of a lug or short arm 90 on the bottom of the pan and a pair of levers 9192 carrying gripping-jaws 93-94 on each side of the frame, so arranged that the pan will be positioned beneath and in line with the stirrers when the ends of the lugs are set in the gripper jaws. The lugs 90 on both sides of the pan are thus seized and confined between the jaws 9894 and the pan is locked and held rigidly in the frame, while the stirrers are in operation. In addition to the jaws of each pair of levers, which are arranged to grasp the end of the lug from above and from below, a rocking-lever 96 movable in a plane at right angles to the jaws is arranged to engage a slot 97 in the end of the lug, as a means for centering the lug between the jaws and for confining it therein against lateral movement. As the function of the grippingjaws is to hold down the pan and prevent vertical move ment when the st-irrers are in operation, so the locking-levers when set against the ends of the lugs, serve to confine the lugs in the jaws against lateral movement. And they have the function, also, of determining the moment when the lugs are properly positioned between the jaws, before they can be locked; for the upper ends of the lockinglevers 96 cannot be entered in the slot in the end of the lug until the latter is properly centered in the jaws. The levers 96 ,are pivotally attached at 98 to the uprights 2 of the frame, and are connected to a hand-lever 99 by connecting-rods 100101 extending from the end of each gripping-lever to the hand-lever, one rod being attached to the hand-lever at a point below its fulcrum, and the rod from the other lever being similarly connect-ed to the hand-lever at a point below its fulcrum, as seen at 103104, Fig. l. The levers 9192 of the gripping-jaws are also connected with a common hand-lever 105 so as to be operated from the movement of one lever; the connection being made through a rock-shaft or, rod 106 geared into a toothed segment 107 on the lever by a beveled pinion 108. The levers of each set of gripping-jaws are connected by rods 1091 10 to the opposite ends of arms 112 fast on the rock-shaft; as that part is rocked in one direction the jaws will be closed, or when the movement of the rock-shaft in its bearings takes place in the opposite direction they will be opened. These locking means have the advantage of being operated or thrown on or off from one side of the machine by the simple movement of the hand-levers.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the chief chacteristics of the mixing-machine or apparatus of my invention are a removable mixingpan, stationary as to position in the frame during the mixing operation; a revoluble stirrer-head carrying stirring implements or devices movable in separate circular paths each around its own axis, and all rotatable around the central axis of the revoluble head, power-actuated means operating to revolve the head and rotate the stirrers, and means whereby the driving-mechanism is utilized and brought into action at will to raise or lower the head into or out of the mixing pan.

A further novel feature or characteristic of the machine consists in the means for setting the mixing-pan in the frame in working position directly under the stirrers before the revoluble head is lowered, and for looking or fastening the pan in the frame.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 5 is illustrated a device for securing the mixing pans in position and preventing them from tilting except when purposely released. 120, 120 represent disks secured to the ends of the pans and arranged concentric with the trunnions or journals thereof. In the edges of the disks are formed notches 121 with which engage the projections 124 carried by the looking or holding levers. The holding devices or levers are so constructed that they may be operated to release the pan by an attendant standing on either side of the track 5. 122 indicates a lever provided with a projection 124 adapted to enter one of the recesses in a disk 120, and mounted upon a fulcrum piece 123 secured to one of the supporting frame pieces of the car or truck carrying the pan. Another lever, 125, which is also provided with a projection 124, though this may be omitted if desired, is connected by a pivot pin 126 with the lever 122, near its outer or free end, see Fig. 5. The two levers, 122, 125, lie along side each other and are at their ends provided respectively with handles 130, 130, that extend toward opposite sides of the car or truck. The lever 125 carries a pin 127 that projects into a slot 128 formed in the lever 122. The two levers are drawn upward or into position to cause their projections 124 to engage with the disk 120 by springs 129. If an operator standing on the left hand side of the track 5 in Fig. 2 desires to release the pan he grasps the handle of lever 122 and presses downward, releasing the projection 124 of the lever from engagement with the notched disk 120. This downward movement of the lever carries with it the pivoted end of the lever 125 although the spring 129 connected with the latter holds the free end of the lever upward, and consequently its projection 124, if it be provided with one as shown, iskept in engagement with the notched disk. As soon, however, as the lever 122 comes into engagement with the pin 127 carried by the other lever, the lever 125 is moved bodily downward with the grasped lever, as it is no longer free to turn upon its pivot, and the mixing pan is accordingly released. Should the operator be on the other side of the 'track he grasps the handle of the lever 125 and moves that downward. As soon as the pin 127 carried thereby reaches the lower end of the slot 128' the other lever, 122, is caused to move with the both moving together and may be tilted.

The revoluble head is adapted by its conthe pan is released struction to operate with stirring devices'of different forms or styles, having arms or blades that are designed each by its peculiar shape to act with a particular effect upon one grasped and the material. For example, a stirrer composed of a spiral blade will operate when set in the head, to move the lower portions of the material upward through the mass by virtue of the rotary motion given by the driving-gear, and it will also stir the mass by virtue of its circular motion in the pan due to the revolutions of the head around the central axis. In connection with the means that give revolving motion to the head from the driving-shaft on the frame, provision is made for throwing off the power and arresting the revolving motion of the head Without disconnecting the rotating posts or interrupting their motion, so that the head will stand at rest while the stirring-devices will rotate without moving in a circle about the central axis. For that purpose the worm 52 is movable longitudinally on the shaft 53 and is attached to the inner end of the sleeve 115 also slidable on the shaft ;-the worm being attached by a ball-bearing loosely on the end of the sleeve. The opposite end of the sleeve extending through the casing to the outside is furnished with a hand-wheel or head 116 for moving the sleeve on the shaft 53. On drawing out the sleeve 115 by means of this wheel the worm can be disengaged from the wormwheel and the head disconnected from the power without interrupting the rotary motion of the posts.

The ball holder 131 for the thrust bearing of the shaft 53 is preferably formed of a plate and is located between wearing plates 132 which are in engagement with the balls 136 of the bearing. The ball-holding plate is formed with a circular opening 133 in which is situated the bearing 134 for the shaft 53 and with a series of smaller openings 135 for the balls 136.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mixing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a set of revolving stirrers, movable longitudinally as a set about the axis of revolution, power driven devices for revolving the set as a whole and also revolving the individual stirrers, and manually controlled means connectible at will with the power driven devices for moving the set of stirrers longitudinally.

2. In a mixing machine the combination of a frame, a head therein revoluble around an upright axis and movable longitudinally on said axis, stirring-devices carried by the revoluble head and mounted for rotation thereon each on its own axis, a power-driven shaft, means operatively connecting the head with the said shaft for revolving the head, means for rotating the stirring devices from the revolving motion of the head, and means for moving the head longitudinally on its axis connect'ble at will with the power-driven shaft.

3. In a mixing-machine the combination of a frame, a head revoluble therein on an upright axis and movable longitudinally on said axis, stirring-devices carried by the revoluble head and mounted for rotation thereon, a power-driven shaft, means operatively connecting the head with the said shaft for revolving the head, means for ro tating the stirring-devices from the revolving motion of the head, means for shifting the position of the head longitudinally on its axis from the power-driven shaft, and means for connecting the said shifting means with or disconnecting it from the power-driven shaft.

4. In a mixing-machine the combination of a frame, a revoluble head vertically movable therein, a power-driven shaft, means operatively connecting the head with said shaft for revolving the head around its vertical axis, and means for raising and lowering the head from the power-driven shaft, and means for connecting the said raising and lowering means with and disconnecting it from the power-driven shaft.

5. In a mixing machine the combination of a frame, a head carrying stirring-devices, revoluble in the frame around an upright axis, and vertically movable in the frame, a power-driven shaft on the frame, means for revolving the head from the power driven shaft, means for raising the head vertically in the frame from the power-driven shaft without disconnecting the head from the power-driven shaft and means for throwing the said raising means in or out of operation.

6. In a mixing machine the combination of a frame, a head movable vertically therein with reference to a vertical axis, stirringdevices on the head, means for revolving the stirring-devices around said axis, a removable mixing-pan under the head, means for lowering and raising the head perpendicularly in the axis to lower the stirring-devices into and to raise them out of said pan, and locking-devices for fastening the said pan to the frame during the operation of the stirring-devices.

7. In a mixing-machine the combination of a frame, a revoluble head carrying stirring-devices attached thereto, means for r0- tating the stirringdevices, a removable mixing-pan and means for temporarily locking the pan to the frame during the operation of the stirring-devices.

8. In a mixing-machine the combination of a frame comprising uprights and braces mounted on a platform-base, a mixing-pan on Wheels movable on the platform into and out of operative position between the uprights of the frame, locking-devices on the uprights adapted to secure the mixing-pan to the uprights during the operation of mixing, means for throwing off the locking devices to remove the pan, a revoluble head my name in the presence of two subscribing carrying stirring-devices attached thereto, Witnesses. the revoluble head being movable vertically in the frame, and means for raising and lowering the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto subscribed GEORGE A. PETERSON.

Witnesses:

FLORA HALL EDWARD E. ()SBORN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

